The Portland daily press., 1887-06-11

credit the conclusions Of the ancient preach.
er, we have today, in this festive gathering
something new under the sun. And yet
with all its apparent novelty, 1t Is doubtless
q consistent and logical extension OF whal
has always been regarded as the legitimate
work of the society.
You all know with what pleasure we have
on several occasions, taken advantage OF our
neld-days TO visit those interesting remains
OF primitive life known as shell-heaps, scat
tered up and down our State. We have
stood around them with faces that wore be-
coming expression of inquiry and profound
wisdom. We have prodded them with our
canes, we have d ug into them with our
spades; we have, so to speak, turned them
over In our minds; we have estimated the
amount OF savage and sensuous qualification
which they represent: we have speculated
upon the conditions under which they grew
TO such notable dimensions. And now, at
last, we have endeavored, under the greatly
changed conditions OF our modern civiliza-
tlon. to reproduce that feature Of aboriginal
life, and to construct sort of shell-heap of
our own. OF course there will be wide diff
ferences between the pattern and the copy.
A greater variety, for instance, temptS our
appetites than was necessary to satisfy the
simpler tastes Of our predecessors. We can
not expect, under existing sanitary regula--
lions, TO leave such material monument of
our achievements at the feast as they have
left. But these differences are only acciden-
tai, and In spite of them we can see thatIthe
same social impulse brought them together
at their appointed banquets which has
Drought us together around these tables.
And what If it were true that they gathered
IN friendly council, and on the sunny shores
OF inlets, or headlands, or islands, spread
their ample feasts, in honor Of their revered
and beloved sachems. In this. at least, we
can strike hands with them across all the
M aFtd fnalf oh
OF nature that makes us kin. For we are
here today in grateful recognition of the
debt we owe to the fidelity and wisdom of
one who has been for many years our own
sachem-our esteemed and honered Presi-
dent. We all know. gentlemen, his unselish
devotion to the welfare Of the Society; his
wise and watchful care over its varied inter
ests; the kindly courtesy of his official and
personal relations with us. 1t Is a great
pleasure to us to give some outward express
sion to the honor which our hearts have all
along yielded to him. And in order to en-
phasize the feeling that prompted this gath
ering we have been glad to invite and to
welcome here the representatives of sister
Societies, to unite with us in this tribute of
esteem. Wemay thus confirm, by living
contact and fellowship, the sympathies that
run along the obscure lives of antiquarian
research and bind us together in the ties Of
common or similar pursuits.
Nor do we forget that the day is one that
permits Us to add TO this token and assur-
ance of our associated regard the kindly con-
gratulationS and good wishes which belong
TO a personal anniversary, an anniversary, 1t
may be said, that recurs with startling fire.
quency In all our lives. Whatever that was
cherished and valuable the passing years
may have taken away from our reverend
President, who today reaches another miler
stone ON his journey, they have not taken
away from him the continued power and
privilege Of serving his fellow men in many
noble ways. They cannot take away from
him the record OF that for which we honor
him-a life distinguished by important du-
ties worthily performed, by high trusts faith
fully discharged, by great privileges blame
lessly enjoyed. And, on the other hand,
they have brought to him in their swift pas
sage,
that which should accompany old age,
As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends"
Among these troops of friends are we who
offer you, sir, to-day. our heartiest c0ngratu-
lati0ns, and the assurances of our most pro-
found regard.
And not to detain you longer, gentlemen,
from the pleasure that awaits you, and that
you are anticipating, allow me TO present to
you our chief guest, the honored President
OF the society.
Upon rising to reply Mr. Bradbury was
greeted with prolonged applause. Mr. Brad
bury said:
Mr.. BRADBURY'S REMARKS.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen.
| feel embarrassed by your kind and nat
tering civilties, and are unable to make
suitable response. The appreciation Of val
ued friends, especially those with whom we
have been long associated, is among the rich
est rewards that life can afford 1t touches
the heart too deeply for words to express. /
cannotifind language to convey to, you my
appreciation of your kindness. 1t comes from
a society Of which l regard it an honor to be
a member.
Your commendation OF my services is
measured by your kindness more than by
of mine. You have generously
taken the will for the deed.
We, gentlemen, have been engaged in
common cause, in which many Of you have
done much. 1t is patriotic, unselfsh work,
in which the rest Of the community have lks
interest with ourselves. We have pride for
our state and desire that she shall Nave her
proper place in history, and as a society we
nave labored to collect and preserve the ma
terials from which that history may be writ
ten. We cannot forget that after the lapse
of a little time nothing is known of states
and nations save what history preserves. We
know not how many kingdoms have risen
earth has been the residence OF man, and
left no trace of their existence. While some
account of the Jews has been preserved,
how much is now known of their contempo-
rarles in Asia, in Europe, in Africa, in
America?
1t is duty we owe to our State, and it is
a like duty of every citizen, so far as 1t may
be in our power, to see that the elements Of
her history shall be secured 1t is history
full of interest
H. F..
500. The earliest explorations of the north
ern part of the continent were along our
shores.
Weymouth entered and examined our riv-
ers in 1905.
The earliest English attempt to make a
permanent settlement under a charter. north
of the Potomac, was within our borders
In the long continued struggle between
England and France for the possession Of
the continent, our settlers acted an import
ant part. They stood as bulwark for the
defence of the other English colonies, and
were the first object Of attack in the numer-
Gus wars waged by the French and Their In
dian allies. The result Of this momentous
conflict was for long time in doubt. The
French had extended their possessions along
the st. Lawrence to Quebec and Montreal;
and on the Atlantic coast they had pressed
on from Leuisburg and Fort Royal to Mt.
Desert and Castine.
The issue was not decided until the cap
ture of Quebec, and the great victory
achieved by Wolfe over the French in 1859.
What far reaching consequences depended
on the result Had France triumphed and
colonized the Northern Atlantic States, car
rying there her religious and political instr
tutions, what today would have been the
condition of the country now embraced in
the Union? What the influence Of such re-
suit upon Christianity and constitutional
government throughout the world?
In the prosecution of our work to endeayor
to obtain whatever there is that will throw
light upon the struggles and character of the
early pieneers and the advance of society to
its present conditions, substituting civiliza-
tion for barbarism, and the comfortable
homes of an intelligent Christian communi-
ty for the rude huts of the red men, as well
as upon the discovery and explorations of
this part of the continent, our Society has
not been idle.
1t has published nine volumes of collec-
tionS of the first series, and three volumes of
documentary history Of the second series.
For some time after its organization it lacked
the means to make publications. To relieve
this want the State in 1S49 generously grant
ed half township, which was sold for
$4,000. Up to this time only two volumes
had been published. Five volumes had been
added up to 1874, and since thai time five
more have been published, making in all
twelve volumes, nine of the first series and
three of the second.
OF the character and contents of these vol
umes, do not propose now to speak fur
ther than to say that they constitute valua-
BILE contribution to the cause of history.
Many of the papers are of great interest. A
well prepared synopsis would be convenient
and uspfnl Whpthar il is not ahout time